Atheist Nexus2015-03-04T01:11:13ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174http://api.ning.com:80/files/bIBgOihCJLB8UzZ1psu521*ivr39nb3SpLmvURal4zatLuVTy4JErfgPZE*lWeHonl*Ul1XGBeSIWnyzdJV5FJBU05FRE5Su/atheista.png?width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/parentinglittleheathens/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=337irqjfytogw&feed=yes&xn_auth=noPeanut consumption in infancy prevents peanut allergytag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-25:2182797:Topic:25756042015-02-25T17:11:59.797ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p>From ScienceDaily:</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150224083817.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Peanut consumption in infancy prevents peanut allergy, study finds</strong></a></span></p>
<p><em><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/gDF3S0THO9walcjkBcJqZ4IaN3WhHFkuikNhvpUNL2Ga5BsxM*T6TphrrgF8h5Nywb-TpPBcxeCQ9yZJvGJfwAVPYcb63Ox6/PeanutsinshellandpeanutbutterDianaTaliunFotoliasm.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/gDF3S0THO9walcjkBcJqZ4IaN3WhHFkuikNhvpUNL2Ga5BsxM*T6TphrrgF8h5Nywb-TpPBcxeCQ9yZJvGJfwAVPYcb63Ox6/PeanutsinshellandpeanutbutterDianaTaliunFotoliasm.jpg?width=300" width="300"></img></a> Introduction of peanut products…</em></p>
<p>From ScienceDaily:</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150224083817.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Peanut consumption in infancy prevents peanut allergy, study finds</strong></a></span></p>
<p><em><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/gDF3S0THO9walcjkBcJqZ4IaN3WhHFkuikNhvpUNL2Ga5BsxM*T6TphrrgF8h5Nywb-TpPBcxeCQ9yZJvGJfwAVPYcb63Ox6/PeanutsinshellandpeanutbutterDianaTaliunFotoliasm.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/gDF3S0THO9walcjkBcJqZ4IaN3WhHFkuikNhvpUNL2Ga5BsxM*T6TphrrgF8h5Nywb-TpPBcxeCQ9yZJvGJfwAVPYcb63Ox6/PeanutsinshellandpeanutbutterDianaTaliunFotoliasm.jpg?width=300" width="300"/></a>Introduction of peanut products into the diets of infants at high risk of developing peanut allergy was safe and led to an <strong>81 percent reduction in the subsequent development of the allergy</strong>, a clinical trial has found. "Food allergies are a growing concern, not just in the United States but around the world," said an expert. "For a study to show a benefit of this magnitude in the prevention of peanut allergy is without precedent. The results have the potential to transform how we approach food allergy prevention."</em></p>
<p>"At high risk" meant infants who already had egg allergy or severe eczema, but who had not already developed peanut allergy. Lead researcher Gideon Lack warns: "Parents of infants and young children with eczema or egg allergy <strong>should consult with an allergist, pediatrician, or their general practitioner prior to feeding them peanut products</strong>."</p>
<p>The study was inspired by the observation that Israeli children, who begin eating peanut-containing foods early in life, have lower rates of peanut allergy than Jewish children in the UK who have similar ancestry.</p>
<p>Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of NIAID's Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation, said, "While recent studies showed no benefit from allergen avoidance, the LEAP study is the first to show that early introduction of dietary peanut is actually beneficial and identifies an effective approach to manage a serious public health problem."</p>
<p>(<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150224083817.htm" target="_blank">read the full article</a>)</p> Hand-washing dishes linked to fewer allergiestag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-23:2182797:Topic:25747462015-02-23T20:19:01.735ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/e*Q7chwcF2YSHfyNNJgdumGg4zD2Pl*aRhInaVUWQYc5Oc0SblGyVoyEr-K7ckg8uBuHOMRuc4SmRgtHPK8-tZsb-dx5ho*n/kidsatsinkhandwashingdishesGettyImagessmall.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/e*Q7chwcF2YSHfyNNJgdumGg4zD2Pl*aRhInaVUWQYc5Oc0SblGyVoyEr-K7ckg8uBuHOMRuc4SmRgtHPK8-tZsb-dx5ho*n/kidsatsinkhandwashingdishesGettyImagessmall.jpg?width=250" width="250"></img></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>A new, preliminary study in Sweden, <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2015/02/17/peds.2014-2968" target="_blank">published online</a> in <em>Pediatrics</em>, finds significantly less eczema, and somewhat less allergic asthma and hay…</p>
<p></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/e*Q7chwcF2YSHfyNNJgdumGg4zD2Pl*aRhInaVUWQYc5Oc0SblGyVoyEr-K7ckg8uBuHOMRuc4SmRgtHPK8-tZsb-dx5ho*n/kidsatsinkhandwashingdishesGettyImagessmall.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/e*Q7chwcF2YSHfyNNJgdumGg4zD2Pl*aRhInaVUWQYc5Oc0SblGyVoyEr-K7ckg8uBuHOMRuc4SmRgtHPK8-tZsb-dx5ho*n/kidsatsinkhandwashingdishesGettyImagessmall.jpg?width=250" width="250"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>A new, preliminary study in Sweden, <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2015/02/17/peds.2014-2968" target="_blank">published online</a> in <em>Pediatrics</em>, finds significantly less eczema, and somewhat less allergic asthma and hay fever, in 7- and 8-year-old children whose families wash dishes by hand rather than in a dishwasher (even after accounting for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors).</p>
<p><span class="font-size-1">(<a href="http://time.com/3717020/dishwashing-allergies/" target="_blank">image source</a>)</span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>From NPR ("<a href="http://Kids,%20Allergies%20And%20A%20Possible%20Downside%20To%20Squeaky%20Clean%20Dishes" target="_blank">Kids, Allergies And A Possible Downside To Squeaky Clean Dishes</a>"):</p>
<blockquote><p>The findings are the latest to support the "hygiene hypothesis," ... that people in developed countries are growing up way too clean ... As a result, children don't tend to be exposed to as many bacteria and other microorganisms .... That may make the immune system more likely to misfire and overreact in a way that leads to allergies, eczema and asthma, [lead author Dr. Bill Hesselmar of the University of Gothenburg] says.<br/> <br/> He and his colleagues have been trying to figure out some of the simple day-to-day ways we might be too clean.... "The hypothesis was that these different dishwashing methods ... are not equally good in reducing bacteria from eating utensils and so on," Hesselmar says. "So we thought that perhaps hand dishwashing was less effective, so that you are exposed to more bacteria" in a way that's helpful.<br/> <br/> ... Other researchers say the new study may be onto something, though it's still too soon to tell.<br/> <br/> "I think it's very intriguing and lends one more 'X' on the column for the hygiene hypothesis," says Dr. Todd Mahr .... there are other possible explanations, Hesselmar and Mahr both caution.... it could be that people who don't have dishwashers are alike in some other way that reduces their tendency to get allergies.<br/> <br/> Interestingly, for example, certain other lifestyle characteristics — eating fermented foods regularly, and tending to buy some foods straight from the farm — seemed to strengthen the "protective" effect....<br/> <br/> The doctors say they're not ready to recommend that parents stop using the machines.<br/> <br/> "If you're looking at, 'We have only a certain amount of money, and we're looking at buying a dishwasher or spending it on something else,' this might give you an argument to say: 'Well, maybe spend it on something else,' " Mahr says.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A couple of other articles I found:</p>
<p>MedPageToday: <a href="http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Asthma/50141" target="_blank">Hand Dishwashing Tied to Fewer Allergies for Kids</a></p>
<p>Time: <a href="http://time.com/3717020/dishwashing-allergies/" target="_blank">Why Washing Dishes by Hand May Lead to Fewer Allergies</a></p>
<p>And it was good to find that the <em>Pediatrics</em> journal article itself is free to read, <em>not</em> behind a paywall!<br/><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2015/02/17/peds.2014-2968" target="_blank">Allergy in Children in Hand Versus Machine Dishwashing</a></p> Breastfed babies have less colictag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-06:2182797:Topic:25645312015-02-06T18:16:14.928ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p>Babies who were only breastfed had a smoother transition to solid food, in this study.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150205174625.htm" target="_blank">Another breastfeeding benefit: Preparing baby's belly for solid food</a></p>
<blockquote><p>"We found that babies who are fed only breast milk have microbial communities that seem more ready for the introduction of solid foods," said Andrea Azcarate-Peril, PhD, assistant professor in the department of cell…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Babies who were only breastfed had a smoother transition to solid food, in this study.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150205174625.htm" target="_blank">Another breastfeeding benefit: Preparing baby's belly for solid food</a></p>
<blockquote><p>"We found that babies who are fed only breast milk have microbial communities that seem more ready for the introduction of solid foods," said Andrea Azcarate-Peril, PhD, assistant professor in the department of cell biology and physiology and the study's senior author. "The transition to solids is much more dramatic for the microbiomes of babies that are not exclusively breastfed. We think the microbiomes of non-exclusively breastfed babies could contribute to more stomach aches and colic."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2015/02/150205174625-large.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2015/02/150205174625-large.jpg?width=250" width="250"/></a></p> Boxing and Mixed Marital Arts Damage Brainstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2015-02-02:2182797:Topic:25523502015-02-02T17:25:40.628ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150129185147.htm" target="_blank">Repeated head blows linked to smaller brain volume, slower processing speeds</a></p>
<p>If your child shows an interest in boxing or mixed martial arts, ask them if they want brain damage.</p>
<blockquote><p>Repeated blows to the head sustained during serial boxing or martial arts tournaments are linked to smaller volumes of certain parts of the brain and slower processing speeds,...</p>
<p>"Not only does…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150129185147.htm" target="_blank">Repeated head blows linked to smaller brain volume, slower processing speeds</a></p>
<p>If your child shows an interest in boxing or mixed martial arts, ask them if they want brain damage.</p>
<blockquote><p>Repeated blows to the head sustained during serial boxing or martial arts tournaments are linked to smaller volumes of certain parts of the brain and slower processing speeds,...</p>
<p>"Not only does it appear that differences in MRI volumetrics associated with fight exposure can be detected in relatively young individuals, but these differences occur in particular subcortical structures," write the authors.</p>
<p>They go on to suggest that there do seem to be important indicators of brain damage linked to repeated blows to the head,...</p>
<p>Boxers generally fared worse than martial arts combatants, irrespective of their age. The volumes of their brain structures were smaller than those of the martial arts combatants, and they were mentally slower.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2015/01/150129185147-large.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2015/01/150129185147-large.jpg?width=250" width="250"/></a></p> Helping kids handle the transition out of religiontag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-12-21:2182797:Topic:25224972014-12-21T15:14:36.290ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p>Hi, I'm new to atheism, and I tried coming out slowly to my 6 year old son, but after his school christmas program, things sort of sped up on the car ride home. He really freaked out when I told him I didn't believe in jesus anymore, and he now goes back and forth between saying he believes in God and he doesn't. I told him yesterday not to worry about it, bc he's young and he doesn't need to decide anything right now. Any other tips on handling the transition for him?</p>
<p>Hi, I'm new to atheism, and I tried coming out slowly to my 6 year old son, but after his school christmas program, things sort of sped up on the car ride home. He really freaked out when I told him I didn't believe in jesus anymore, and he now goes back and forth between saying he believes in God and he doesn't. I told him yesterday not to worry about it, bc he's young and he doesn't need to decide anything right now. Any other tips on handling the transition for him?</p> Phthalate-exposed fetuses lose 6 IQ pointstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-12-12:2182797:Topic:25190392014-12-12T00:33:17.583ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210140823.htm" target="_blank">Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop in child IQ</a></p>
<p>Don't make your baby stupid by using phthalate products while you are pregnant!</p>
<blockquote><p>Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated levels of two common chemicals found in the home -- di-n-butyl phthalate and di-isobutyl phthalate -- had an <strong>IQ score, on average, more than six points…</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210140823.htm" target="_blank">Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop in child IQ</a></p>
<p>Don't make your baby stupid by using phthalate products while you are pregnant!</p>
<blockquote><p>Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated levels of two common chemicals found in the home -- di-n-butyl phthalate and di-isobutyl phthalate -- had an <strong>IQ score, on average, more than six points lower</strong> than children exposed at lower levels, according to researchers. The study is the first to report a link between prenatal exposure to phthalates and IQ in school-age children. While avoiding all phthalates in the United States is for now impossible, the researchers <strong>recommend that pregnant women take steps to limit exposure by not microwaving food in plastics, avoiding scented products as much as possible, including air fresheners, and dryer sheets, and not using recyclable plastics labeled as 3, 6, or 7</strong>. [emphasis mine]</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;">NOT GOOD IF YOU'RE PREGNANT!</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0709/360_products_0924.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0709/360_products_0924.jpg"/></a><a href="http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1664954,00.html" target="_blank">image source</a></p> Kids need flu shotstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-09-20:2182797:Topic:24778082014-09-20T04:16:25.427ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p><a href="http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31615281&amp;nid=148&amp;title=cdc-90-of-kids-who-died-last-flu-season-didnt-get-vaccine" target="_blank">CDC: 90% of kids who died last flu season didn't get vaccine</a></p>
<blockquote><p>The flu kills up to approximately 36,000 people each year, but less than half of the population gets an annual flu shot. That’s something the CDC wants to change.</p>
<p>“Flu hit young and middle-aged adults hard last year and just over 100 children…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31615281&amp;nid=148&amp;title=cdc-90-of-kids-who-died-last-flu-season-didnt-get-vaccine" target="_blank">CDC: 90% of kids who died last flu season didn't get vaccine</a></p>
<blockquote><p>The flu kills up to approximately 36,000 people each year, but less than half of the population gets an annual flu shot. That’s something the CDC wants to change.</p>
<p>“Flu hit young and middle-aged adults hard last year and just over 100 children died,”...</p>
<p><span class="storyBody"><strong><span class="font-size-3">Ninety percent of the children who died did not receive flu shot</span></strong>, according to the CDC’s Director Dr. Tom Frieden.</span></p>
<p><span class="storyBody"><span class="storyBody">The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get the flu shot.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="storyBody">The CDC is also recommending that children ages 2 to 8 receive the nasal spray vaccine this year, as new evidence suggests this method is more effective for this age group, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/18/flu-shot-recommendations/15824917/">according to USA Today</a>. Last year, just 55 percent of children ages 5 to 17 got vaccinated.[emphasis mine]</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span class="storyBody"><a target="_blank" href="http://a57.foxnews.com/media2.foxnews.com/thumbnails/i/102913/780/438/102913_flu_1255.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://a57.foxnews.com/media2.foxnews.com/thumbnails/i/102913/780/438/102913_flu_1255.jpg"/></a></span><a href="http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/10/29/cdc-warning-even-healthy-children-can-die-flu-complications" target="_blank">image source</a></p> Omega 3s during pregnancy diets determine that child's math scorestag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-09-11:2182797:Topic:24732102014-09-11T19:42:11.796ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p>The current US diet, high in corn and soybean products, harms the brain of your developing fetus. Pregnant women need lots of omega 3's and a lot less omega 6's. Nearly half of the difference in children's academic test scores was explained by the ratio of omega 3's to omega 6's in their mother's milk.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140911094749.htm" target="_blank">Breast milk reveals a correlation between dietary fats and academic…</a></p>
<p>The current US diet, high in corn and soybean products, harms the brain of your developing fetus. Pregnant women need lots of omega 3's and a lot less omega 6's. Nearly half of the difference in children's academic test scores was explained by the ratio of omega 3's to omega 6's in their mother's milk.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140911094749.htm" target="_blank">Breast milk reveals a correlation between dietary fats and academic success</a></p>
<blockquote><p>Researchers compared the fatty acid profiles of breast milk from women in over two dozen countries with how well children from those same countries performed on academic tests.</p>
<p>Their findings show that <strong>the amount of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a mother's milk -- fats found primarily in certain fish, nuts and seeds -- is the strongest predictor of test performance.</strong> It outweighs national income and the number of dollars spent per pupil in schools.</p>
<p>DHA alone accounted for about 20 percent of the differences in test scores among countries, the researchers found.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <strong>the amount of omega-6 fat in mother's milk -- fats that come from vegetable oils such as corn and soybean -- predict lower test scores. When the amount of DHA and linoleic acid (LA) -- the most common omega-6 fat -- were considered together, <span class="font-size-3">they explained nearly half of the differences in test scores.</span></strong> In countries where mother's diets contain more omega-6, the beneficial effects of DHA seem to be reduced.</p>
<p>... estimated the DHA and LA content -- the good fat and the bad fat -- in diets in 50 countries by examining published studies of the fatty acid profiles of women's breast milk.</p>
<p>... children receive their brain-building fats from their mothers. Breast milk profiles indicate the amount of DHA children in each region receive in the womb, through breastfeeding, and from the local diet available to their mothers and to them after they are weaned.</p>
<p>... the DHA content of breast milk was the single best predictor of math test performance," Gaulin said. The second best indicator was the amount of omega-6, and its effect is opposite. <strong>"Considering the benefits of omega-3 and the detriment of omega-6, we can get pretty darn close to explaining half the difference in scores</strong> between countries," he added. When DHA and LA are considered together, he added, they are twice as effective at predicting test scores as either is alone, ...</p>
<p>... <span class="font-size-3"><strong>our current agribusiness-based diets provide very low levels of DHA -- <span style="color: #ff6600;">among the lowest in the world</span>. Thanks to two heavily government-subsidized crops -- corn and soybeans -- the average U.S. diet is heavy in the bad omega-6 fatty acids and far too light on the good omega-3s</strong></span>, ...</p>
<p>So our message is that not only is it advisable to increase omega 3 intake, it's highly advisable to decrease omega-6 ...</p>
<p>Gaulin added that mayonnaise is, in general, the most omega-6-laden food in the average person's refrigerator. [emphasis mine]</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://33q47o1cmnk34cvwth15pbvt120l.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/images/efacontentoils.png"><img class="align-center" src="http://33q47o1cmnk34cvwth15pbvt120l.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/images/efacontentoils.png"/></a><a href="http://chriskresser.com/how-too-much-omega-6-and-not-enough-omega-3-is-making-us-sick" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<blockquote><p>Olive oil is on average 10% linoleic acid (an omega-6 oil) and less than 1% linolenic acid (an omega-3 oil), therefore the ratio is 10:1 on average. [<a href="http://www.oliveoilsource.com/definition/omega-3-and-omega-6-fatty-acids" target="_blank">source</a>]</p>
<p></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-4" style="color: #3366ff;"><strong>Fatty Fish</strong></span></p>
<blockquote><p>Tuna varieties offer differing amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Albacore, often labeled "white meat tuna," has the most: One (four-ounce) serving packed in water delivers 1.06 grams, while you'll get 0.5 gram from the same size serving of albacore packed in oil. Since omega-3s are oils, they don't disperse when the fish is packed in water, and draining the water allows most of these beneficial fatty acids to remain in the fish. But tuna packed in oil provides an environment where the fish's natural oils intermingle with the packing oil, so when the can is drained, some of the omega-3 oils are lost.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But tuna contains mercury!</p>
<blockquote><p>... pregnant or lactating women and young children should limit their consumption to 12 ounces of light tuna or 6 ounces of albacore weekly.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/30/cl.can.fish/" target="_blank">Fishing for fast, easy nutrition? Consider canned</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Most salmon in the supermarket is farmed. While it's a good source for omega 3's it also contains toxins. The pricier wild salmon is better.</p>
<p>Canned salmon is usually wild, but Coho (Silver Salmon) and Pink Salmon have less healthy fat than the pricier King and Sockeye (Red) salmon sold fresh. Red Salmon is also sold canned ( a good bet).</p>
<blockquote><p>Farmed salmon had greater levels of total lipid (average 16.6%) than wild salmon (average 6.4%). The n-3 to n-6 ratio was about 10 in wild salmon and 3-4 in farmed salmon.</p>
<p>Salmon, especially farmed salmon, are a good source of healthy n-3 fatty acids, but they also contain high concentrations of organochlorine compounds such as PCBs, dioxins, and chlorinated pesticides. The presence of these contaminants may reduce the net health benefits derived from the consumption of farmed salmon, despite the presence of the high level of n-3 fatty acids in these fish.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16323755" target="_blank">Lipid composition and contaminants in farmed and wild salmon.</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Sardines, smelt, shad and anchovies are also good sources of omega 3's.</p>
<p><a href="http://fishcooking.about.com/od/howtochoosefreshfish/tp/omega3_list.htm" target="_blank">Five Omega-3 Champs</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://photos2.demandstudios.com/dm-resize/photos.demandstudios.com%2Fgetty%2Farticle%2F232%2F40%2F177357786_XS.jpg?w=400&amp;h=10000&amp;keep_ratio=1"><img class="align-center" src="http://photos2.demandstudios.com/dm-resize/photos.demandstudios.com%2Fgetty%2Farticle%2F232%2F40%2F177357786_XS.jpg?w=400&amp;h=10000&amp;keep_ratio=1&amp;width=400" width="400"/></a><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/500071-are-sardines-in-water-better-for-you-than-in-oil/" target="_blank">image source</a></p> Children in megacities get brain damagetag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-09-11:2182797:Topic:24733172014-09-11T18:43:27.707ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140910093223.htm" target="_blank">Air pollution harmful to young brains, study finds</a></p>
<p>Air pollution in large cities damages children's respiratory, gastrointestinal and blood-brain barriers, resulting in brain inflammation.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Pollution in many cities threatens the brain development in children.</strong> Findings from a recent study reveal that children living in megacities are at increased risk for brain…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140910093223.htm" target="_blank">Air pollution harmful to young brains, study finds</a></p>
<p>Air pollution in large cities damages children's respiratory, gastrointestinal and blood-brain barriers, resulting in brain inflammation.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Pollution in many cities threatens the brain development in children.</strong> Findings from a recent study reveal that children living in megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.</p>
<p>The study found <strong>when air particulate matter and their components such as metals are inhaled or swallowed, they pass through damaged barriers, including respiratory, gastrointestinal and the blood-brain barriers and can result in long-lasting harmful effects</strong>.</p>
<p>Calderón-Garcidueñas and her team compared 58 serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from a control group living in a low-pollution city and matched them by age, gender, socioeconomic status, education and education levels achieved by their parents to 81 children living in Mexico City.</p>
<p>The results found that the children living in Mexico City had significantly higher serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of <strong>autoantibodies against key tight-junction and neural proteins, as well as combustion-related metals</strong>.</p>
<p>"We asked why a clinically healthy kid is making autoantibodies against their own brain components," Calderón-Garcidueñas said. "That is indicative of damage to barriers that keep antigens and neurotoxins away from the brain. Brain autoantibodies are one of the features in the brains of people who have neuroinflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis."</p>
<p>... the kids are suffering from immune dysregulation.</p>
<p>The results of constant exposure to air pollution and the constant damage to all barriers eventually result in significant consequences later in life. She explains that the autoimmune responses are potentially contributing to the neuroinflammatory and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's pathology they are observing in young urban children.</p>
<p>While the study focused on children living in <strong>Mexico City</strong>, others living in cities where there are alarming levels of air pollution such as <strong>Los Angeles, Philadelphia-Wilmington, New York City, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Tokyo, Mumbai, New Delhi or Shanghai, among others</strong>, also face major health risks. In the U.S. alone, 200 million people live in areas where pollutants such as ozone and fine particulate matter exceed the standards. [emphasis mine]</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2014/09/140910093223-large.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2014/09/140910093223-large.jpg"/></a>This can't be good for adults either.</p>
<p>If you live in a city with high air pollution, the least you can do is use hepa filters to clean the air inside your home.</p>
<p></p> Video games change teenstag:www.atheistnexus.org,2014-08-05:2182797:Topic:24551062014-08-05T20:42:40.022ZMissyhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/Missy174
<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140804100352.htm" target="_blank">Becoming bad through video games: Risk-glorying video games to increases in teens' high-risk behavior</a></p>
<p>Video games that glorify risk alter teen identity, with bad consequences.</p>
<blockquote><p>... new research finds for the first time that <strong>teenagers who play mature-rated, risk-glorifying video games are more likely subsequently to engage in a wide range of deviant behaviors beyond…</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140804100352.htm" target="_blank">Becoming bad through video games: Risk-glorying video games to increases in teens' high-risk behavior</a></p>
<p>Video games that glorify risk alter teen identity, with bad consequences.</p>
<blockquote><p>... new research finds for the first time that <strong>teenagers who play mature-rated, risk-glorifying video games are more likely subsequently to engage in a wide range of deviant behaviors beyond aggression, including alcohol use, smoking cigarettes, delinquency and risky sex</strong>.</p>
<p>More generally, such games -- especially character-based games with anti-social protagonists -- appear to <strong>affect how adolescents think of themselves</strong>, with potential consequences for their alter ego in the real world.</p>
<p>The findings follow a 2012 Dartmouth study that shows such video games may lead teens to drive recklessly and experience increases in automobile accidents, police stops and willingness to drink and drive. [emphasis mine]</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2012/05/tech-052412-005-617x416.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2012/05/tech-052412-005-617x416.jpg"/></a><a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1112541806/do-violent-video-games-really-train-deadly-shooters/" target="_blank">image source</a></p>